Automatic corn-popping machine



Feb. 15, 1938.

H. B. TYLER AUTOMATIC CORN POPPING MACHINE s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept.24,1934

H. B. TYLER AUTOMATIC CORN POPPING MACHINE Feb. -15, 1938.

Filed Sept 24, 19:54 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 eb;1.s,'193s. H. B. TYLER2,108,627

, AUTOMATII IC CORN POPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 24, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet4 7 4/- 6 2 6 a? 66 i 40 72. 47 T 60 51 Feb. 15, 1938. H. 8. TYLERAUTOMATIC CORN POPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. .24, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 6jlllllllll "MI n Patented Feb. 1.5, 1938 i r UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEaioatzv K AUTOMATIC CORN-POPPING MACHINE Herbert B. Tyler, Evanston,Ill. Application September 24, 1934, Serial No. 745,215

22 Claims. (01. 53-4) This invention relates to automatic corn-popmasterswitch. and showing the mechanism for ping machines. turning the same tocircuit opening and circuit One object of the invention is to provide anclosing positions. improved corn-popping machine having means Figure 12is a broken sectional view taken on for automaticallymeasuringsuccessive quantiline l2l2 of Figure 11. 5

ties of corn to be popped, subjecting each batch Figure 13 is a brokensectional view illustratto regulated popping temperature for a predei tp pp ng basket in P pp pesitien. termined period of time, moving thepopped corn Figure 14 illustrates the basket in dischargto dispensingposition and then stopping the 8 positionoperation of the machine afterplacing various In the drawings in whic One embodiment of 10 controlmechanisms in position for repeating the. the invention is disclosed, acasing I0 is provided operating cycle. within which the operatingmechanism is housed A further object of the invention is to provide aswe a the hopper II for din a pply meter p r ed mechanism for popping com01 shelled corn and an oil reservoir 12 for mainhaving automaticallyoperated switches which .t ini a p rm d il l v in th hot oil 15 controlthe operation of the motor and the mechtank I3.

anism throughout the complete cycle of opera- 1 The casing p e y has afront Panel 015 tion. I glass. The top l5 of the casing is removable forAn, additional object of the invention is to onv n in replenishing t ppy f com provide mechanism within a casing for popping and 011 170 l p Hand reservoir 2 and dispensing the com, the mechanism in thespeelivelyillustrated embodiment of the invention having A coin-slide 6,o conventional typ is p omeans extending to the exterior of the casingfor vided having a recess for Teceiving a 0011i. closing a master switchto initiate the cycle. or such as afive cent piece. When the coin is inl 0 Operation and t di pense the popped corn, the position in therecess, and the slide I6 is pressed arrangement being such that saidmeans are inwardly, is moved to the right as inoperative during theoperating cycle. viewed in Figure i. A link l9 pivoted to the Otherobjects relate to various features of coninner d of the bar n 110 a p a20 struction and arrangement of parts which will m v s the armclockwise. whereupon t e pawl be apparent from a consideration of thefollow- Mv es One Of tWO diametrically pp e 30 111g Specificationand'accompanying drawings, ratchet teeth 22 in a ratchet 23 secured tothe wherein: main switch shaft 24 and rotates the shaft Figure 1 is aperspective view f corn-popthrough 90 degrees or one quarter revolution.ping and vending machine embodying th mes; The shaft 24 is rotatablyjournaled' adjacent its (mt improvements. ends in the brackets 25, 26 ofa support 21, at- 35 Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view 1 th l tached tothe base 28 of the casing Hi. In aligntric circuit. v ment with the endof the shaft 24 a rotary mas- Figure 3 is a vertical sectional viewtaken apr Swi h 2 is secured to bracket 0 nd has proximately on line 3-301 Figure 1, its spindle 3| secured to the shaft for operation 40 Figure4 is a. broken vertical sectional view thereby E- The Switch 9 S of the40 takenon'line 4-4 of Figure 1; conventional rotary type and during.each com- Figure 5 is a broken horizontalsectional view plete rotationalternately opens and closes the taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4. acircuit two times. When the shaft 24 is rotated Figure 6 is a brokenvertical section view one quarter revolution by the pawl 2| as abovetaken on line 6-6 of Figure 4. explained, the switch 29 is snapped to"on" or 45 Figure 7 is a side elevation of the clock windcircuit closingposition. The closing of the ing disc taken on the lineJ-I of Figure v6.switch admits current from the lines 32, 33 Figure 8 is a brokensectional view taken on to the heating element 34 which-is positionedline 8--8' of Figure 6. in the oil tank l3. Current also flows to thepilot Figure 9 is a broken elevation of the clock light 3 w c is Visiblethrough the glass panel 50 winding disc illustrating the same intheposition l4, to indicate that current is flowing ,in the at thebeginning of the winding action. circuit of the apparatus which is showndiagram- Figure .10, is a broken view illustrating the disc matically inFig. 2. at the end of the winding action. The oil in the tank I3 isheated by the heating Figurell is a broken plan view illustrating theelement 34 to a predetermined temperature (380" 55 current to the motor21.

The motor 31 preferably has a conventional speed reducing gear housing88 attached thereto and operates a sprocket 89 which by means of chain40 drives asprocket 4! which is secured to the main or cam shaft 42.During this first one half cycle of operation of the machine, that is,from the initiation of the operation bypressing in the coin slide it toand through the deposition of the corn into the hot oil, the motorrotates the shaft 42 only one half revolution when it is stopped by theopening of an intermediate switch 42 in the motor circuit. The switch 42is of well known yp and is provided with a pull chain 44 or the like,which when actuated, alternately opens and closes the circuit throughthe same. The switch 43 is illustrated as being secured to the support21, adjacent the bracket 28 (see Fig. 12) with the chain 44 attached toa lever 45 which is pivoted at 48 to the support.

'A disc 41 is mounted on the-main shaft and carries on one side thereofrollers 48 and 42 which alternately are'carried into engagement with thelever 46 to swing the same clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 12, to turn theswitch 42 on or off. As the motor rotates the shaft 42 toward the end ofthe first one-half rotation above mentioned, the lever 45 will close theswitch 42 and stop the motor. In Fig. 12 the disc 4'! is shown in theposition it occupies at the end of a complete cycle of operation or atthe beginning of a next cycle. Thus when the motor begins to turn theshaft and disc 41 in the direction of the arrow, a roller 48 will engagethe lever 48 and close the switch 42 at the end of the first half cycle.At the beginning of the operation of the shaft during this one halfcycle, however, which begins when the thermostat 26 has closed the motorcircuit, an eccentric or cam roller It on a disc ll carried by the shaft42 will engage a lever 52 and swing the same to the right as viewed inFig. 3.

The lever is pivoted on a pintle 53 and at its upper end is connected bya link 54 to the sliding 75 arm 64 extended into the path of the cam 60.

gate 55 of the corn measuring chamber 58. The corn in such chamber willthus be discharged into the basket 51 which, as shown, is constructed ofsheet metal with its base and lower side walls foraminated to admit thehot oil to the corn. The basket is pivotally secured at 51a to the sidewalls of the tank It.

A spring it, secured at one end to the lever 52 and at the other end toa corn discharge spout SI, returns the lever 52 to the left, as viewedin Fig. 3, as soon as the lever is free of the roller El. The gate 55 oftheicorn measuring chamber is thus moved to closed position and is readyfor receiving the next measured quantity of corn during thesecond halfcycleof operation of the shaft 42.

During the first half cycle, however, and after the corn has beendischarged into the basket U, the latter is lowered into the oil tank I3 to immerse the corn in the hot oil to pop the same. The movement ofthe basket from the inclined position of Fig. 3 to the vertical orpopping position shown in Fig. 13, is effected by means of a cam 60secured to one side of a disc 6i mounted on the shaft 42 for rotationthereby. A bellcrank lever 62 is pivoted at 62 and has its lower amass?found that 55 seconds is adequate where the oil temperature is 380although changes in both time and temperature may be required with cornof diflerent quality.

The time switch 61 has a hand 68 secured to its spindle 69, which isengaged by a. spring resisted pivoted catch 10 carried by the disc 8| asthe latter begins to rotate at the beginning of the first one half cycleof operation. As the catch I0 engages the hand 68 (see Fig. 9) and movesduring 180 degrees counterclockwise, the

spring of the clock is wound up. As the disc approaches the end of saidmovement, a stud 10a trips or deflects the catch 10 out of engagementwith the hand 68 and releases the latter as illustrated in Fig. 10. Itis at this point in the cycle of operations, that is, upon release ofthe arm 68 that the basket 51 islowered into the oil tank andthat theintermediate switch 42 closes the motor circuit. No movement of themechanism occurs during the period that the time clock is unwinding, butas it reaches its unwound position fifty-five seconds, for example,after the release of the hand 68 and the simultaneous lowering of thebasket 51 to popping position, the clock switch, by internal contacts,not shown, closes the motor circuit to initiate the second one halfcycle of operation.

During this second one half cycle the motor 21 operates the shaft 42also one half revolution. During this movement of the shaft the cam 60moves from the'positlon of Fig. 13 to the position of Fig.4, and tiltsthe basket 51 with the popped corn therein to the inclined positionshown in the latter figure. Any surplus oil in the basket drains backinto the tank It. Also during this movement of the shaft 42, a roller IIon the disc 8!, but diametrically opposite the roller 50, and being onthe opposite side of the disc, engages a lever I2, pivoted at its lowerend on the pintle 52, and moves it to the right as viewed in Fig. 3. Theupper end of the lever 12 is connected by a link 14 with a slidableclosure gate 15 which is drawn to uncover the measuring chamber 86 topermit corn from the hopper to fill the chamber. As the roller llreleases the lever 12, a spring 16 moves the gate 15 to closed position.

When the basket 51 has been elevated from the oil during this second onehalf cycle and the corn measuring chamber has been filled as abovedescribed (to prepare it for the discharge of corn into the basket uponthe beginning of the next cycle of operation) the roller 49 on the disc41 will move into engagement with the lever 45 and move it to the right,as viewed in Fig; 12, and close the intermediate'swltch 43. Immediatelythereafter a roller 11 on the opposite side of the disc will engage alever 18 pivoted at 18 to the support 21 and move it to the left orcounterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 12 and by means of a link 80, swinga pawl arm 8i clockwise. Pivotally mounted on the arm 8| is a tworatchet teeth 8901' a ratchet 84 secured to the master switch shaft 24and turns the same one quarter rotation thus opening the master switch29 and stopping the motor, in-

link 86 to a cross-head 81 pivoted at 88 to cars 89 depending from thehorizontal partition 99 which supports the tank l3. The upper endof thecross-head is secured to a link 9! which-is pivoted at 92 to a side ofthe basket 51. As the plunger 85 is pressed inwardly, the basket istilted outwardly to the discharging position shown in Fig. 14. through achute 93 into a paper bag or the like (not shown) which the purchaserholds thereunder.

An agitator 99 is shown attached to the upper forward portion of thebasket 57 and extending into the chute 93. By alternately pressing andreleasing theplunger the agitator will release the corn if it tends toaccumulate in or clog'the chute.

' A spring 95 returns the basket from discharging position to theposition shown in Fig. 3 upon releasing the plunger 85.

The oil reservoir l2, which is removably supported by a horizontalpartition 95 has a removable air tight filler-cap 91 at its upper endand a depending tube 98 at its lower end which extends into the openendof a pipe 99 which projects above the level of the oil in the tank13.

The pipe extends beneath the tank i3 into communication with the bottomthereof and thus supplies oil to the tank to maintain the oil at a leveldetermined by the lower end of the tube 98. By

line is avoided. A closure cock98a is preferably providedin tube 99. i

As illustrated in Fig. 3, one side. wall of the measuring chamber 56 isformed by a slidable member I00 which has an adjusting screw ID! at itsrear end by means of which .said member can be moved forwardly orrearwardly for varying the corn holding capacity of the chamber.

A receptacle I02 may be provided beneath the innerend of the coin slideI6 for receiving the coins as they drop from the slide .after actuationof the shaft 24 one-quarter rotation to close. the master switch. Sincethe teeth 22 of the ratchet 23 and the teeth 83 of the ratchet 84 aresimilarly disposed with respect to the shaft 2, a quarter A 2|, theteeth 83 will be positioned 90 degrees from the position shown in Fig.12, and will be moved to the latter position by the pawl 82 in closingthe master switch. While the machine is operating, therefore, the teeth22 will not be in position for engagement by the pawl 2|, and hence it acoin is placed in the slide i6 and the latter pressed inwardly duringthe operation of the machine, the master switch will notice closed.

It will also be observed that when the basket 51 is in the poppingposition illustrated in Fig. 13,

The popped corn is discharged As the lever 18 is the pivot point 92 ofthe discharging mechanism will be moved arcuately from the positionshown in Fig. 3 into alignment with the pivotal axis 51a of the basketand thus prevent the basket being elevated from the tank l3 during thepopping operation by attempting to operate the plunger 85. As will benoted also, the arcuate top I 3a of the tank'forms a closure for thebasket while the corn is being popped.

Referring to Fig. 2 which diagrammatically illustrates the electriccircuit of "the machine, including the circuit for the heating elementand the auxiliary circuit of the motor, it will be seen that when themaster switch is closed, current will flow to the heating coil 39 andpilot light 35. This circuit is established through wires 39, M9, masterswitch 29, conductor $94, through the coil' and pilot light to conductor92. When the thermostat 3'6 has been closed, current will pass from wire99 through the closed intermediate switch 93, conductor M5, to the motor31, conductor I06, through the thermostat 36 and to the wire 32. Whenthe intermediate switch 43 has been opened at the end of the first halfcycle, the motor is stopped. During the second half cycle after the cornhas been popped, the clock switch re-establishes the motor circuitthrough conductors 33,

I91, clock switch 61, conductors H98, I95, N6, and through thethermostat .96 to wire 32. At the end. of the second half cycle, themaster switch 29 will again be opened, as described above, to open thecircuit of the heating coil 39 and the pilot light 35.

By the present improvements a compact corn popping and dispensingmachine is provided which will popsuccessive batches of corn rapidlyafter the oil has been initially heated.

The casing Ill has a rear wall I I0 which can be removed readily bysliding the same upwardly after the cover has been removed. Thisprovides access to the interior of the casing for making adjustments orremoving the accumulated coins. The cover preferably has a. lock ill forpreventing surreptitious removal of the same and access to the interiorof the casing.

During the popping operation vapor is formed which tends to condense onthe interior of the easing. Some vapors are given ofi also by the oil atthe operating temperature. To remove the vapors from the casing asuctiondevice may be employed such as a suction fan H2 which is operatedby a small electric motor H3. A tube I I4 extends from the top l3a ofthe oil tank I?! to thefan for drawing the vapors from the tank andbasket during the popping operation, or from the tank when the oil ishot but when the basket is in inoperative position. The vapors may beconducted by tube M5 to the exterior of the easing asshown in Fig. 3.

For operating the motor H3 it may be connected across the conduits 32and I99, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Itwill thus be seen that the fan willbegin to function when the oil reaches operating temperature and thethermostat 36 closes, and will continue to operate as long as the oil issumciently hot to retain the thermostat in circuit closing relation andthe master-switch is closed. It is at the higher temperatures that thevapors are most pronounced and objectionable.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my inventionfor. the purpose of I claim:

1. Corn popping mechanism comprising a heat some, a movable poppingbasket for holding corn to be popped, mechanism for moving said basketinto and from popping relation with said heat source, means forinterrupting the operation of said mechanism during the poppingoperation, and means automatically eflecting the reactuation of saidmechanism to remove said basket from said heat source upon completion ofthe popping operation.

2. A corn popping machine comprising a source of heat, a popping basketmovable to and from operative relation with respect thereto, a cornhopper, means for discharging a measured quantity of corn from saidhopper into said basket.

motor operated mechanism for actuating said discharge means andeffecting the movement of said basket into operative relation with saidheat source for popping the corn in the basket, means for interruptingthe operation of said motor upon the completion of said movement of saidbasket, and timing-means for eiiecting the operation of said motor aftera predetermined interval for effecting the removal of said basket fromsaid source.

3. A corn popping machine comprising a source of heat, a popping basketmovable into and from operative relation with respect thereto, a cornhopper, means for discharging a measured quantity of corn from saidhopper into said basket, means for moving said basket into and fromoperative relation with said heat source, an electric motor foractuating both said means, and a circuit for supplying current to saidmotor comprising a plurality of switches, one of said switches beingarranged to energize said motor initially to actuate said dispensingmeans and said basket moving means to move said basket into operativerelation with said heat source, a second switch in said circuit arrangedto de-energise said motor when said basket has been moved into saidoperative position, and a third switch in said circuit arranged tore-energize said motor for efiecting the removal of said basket fromsaid heat source after a predetermined interval.

4. A corn popping machine comprising an oil 'tank, means for heating theoil therein, -a movable popping basket, a corn hopper above said basket,discharge means for discharging a measured quantity of corn from saidhopper into said basket, cam operated means for actuating said dischargemeans, cam operated means for movin: said basket into popping positionwith respect to the oil in said tankand from operative relation with theoil when the corn has been popped, a rotary shaft provided with cams foroperating said means, a motor for operating said shaft, and a circuitfor said motor comprising a manually operable switch for initiallyenergizing said motor to operate said cam shaft and effect the operationof said discharge means and move said basket in'to popping position, asecond switch arranged to de-energize said motor as said basket is movedinto p pping position, and a timing switch arranged to re-energize saidmotor upon the completion of the popping operation to effect the removalof said basket from popping position.

5. A corn popping machine comprising an oiltank, means for heating theoil therein, a popping basket mounted adjacent said tank for movementinto and out of contact with the oil there in, an operating lever forsaid basket, a motor, a

amass? ation of said motor when said basket has been moved into poppingposition, and a time switch for re-energizing said motor after apredetermined period to effect the movement of said basket from popping.position.

8. A com popping machine comprising an oil tank having heating means forthe oil therein, a popping basket movably positioned adjacent said tank,means for eiiecting the movement of said basket into and from poppingposition with re spect to said tank, a corn hopper, a corn messuringchamber having an intake gate for admitting to said chamber measuredquantities of corn from said hopper, a discharge gate for said chamberfor discharging corn from said chamber to said basket, a temperatureresponsive circuitcloser in said tank, a motor, a rotary shaft oper ableby said motor and provided with 'a plurality of means for alternatelyoperating said gates and effecting the movement of said basket actuatingmeans, and an electric circuit for said motor, the circuit beingarranged to be closed by said circuit closer when the oil in said tankis at a predetermined temperature to start said motor and shaft'andactuate in sequence said second mentioned gate operating means and saidbasket operating means to eiiect the disc e of corn from said chamberinto said basket and move the latter into poppi D On in said tank. 861dcircuit comprising a switch having means for operation bysaid shaft foropening saidcircuit to stop said motor upon movement of said basket intosaid popping position, and a time switch for re-cloaing said motoreircuit'after a predetermined interval for operating said shaft andeffecting the movement of said et from popping position and actuatingsai first gate operating means to discharge a measured quantity of cornfrom said hopper into said measuring chamber.

7. A com popping machine comprising an oil tank, means for heating theoil therein, a popping basket movably supported adjacent said tank, acorn hopper positioned at an elevation above said basket and providedwith dispensing mechanism for delivering a measured quantity of cornfrom said hopper to said basket, operating means for moving said basketto and from popping position with respect to the oil in said tank,operating means for said corn dispensing mechanism, a rotary shafthaving means thereon for effecting the movement of said dispensingmechanism, operating means to effect the discharge of corn into saidbasket and to eflect the movement of said operating means of saidmechanism to move the latter into popping position during the rotationof said shaft during an arc of 180 degrees and to move said basket frompopping position during the movement of said shaft closing the motorcircuit after a predetermined time interval toeii'ect the movement ofsaid shaft through said second mentioned are.

8. A, com popp ng machine comprising an oil tank, means for heating theoil therein, a popping basket movably supported adjacent said tank, acorn hopper positioned at an elevation above said basket and providedwith dispensing mechanism for delivering a measured quantity of cornfrom said hopper to'said basket, operating means for moving said basketto and from popping position with respect to the oil in said tank,operating means for said corn dispensing mechanism, a rotary shafthaving means thereon for effecting the movement of said dispensingmechanism operating means to effect the discharge of com into saidbasket and to effect the movement of said operating means of saidmechanism to move the latter into popping position during the rotationof said shaft during an arc of 180 degrees and to move said basket frompopping position during the movement of said shaft throughthe'succeeding 180 degree arc a motor for operating said shaft, anelectric circuit for said motor comprising a plurality of switches, oneof said switches having means operable by said shaft for open- 0 ingsaid motor circuit as said shaft terminates said first arc of rotation,and a time switch for closing said motor circuit to start said motorwithin a predetermined time interval after the stoppage of said shaft,and a third switch provided with means operable by said shaft forreopening said rnotor circuit as said shaft cornpletes its movementthrough said second are.

9. A corn popping machine comprising an oil tank, an electric heatingelement therein, a popping basket movably supported adjacent said tank,a corn hopper positioned at an'elevation above said basket and providedwith dispensing mechanism for delivering a measured quantity of cornfrom said hopper to said basket, operating means for moving said basketto and from popping position with respect to the oil in said tank,operating means for said dispensing mechanism, a rotary shaft havingmeans thereon for effecting the movement of said operating means of said40 mechanism to discharge corn into said basket and for effecting themovement of the operating -means of said basket for moving the latterinto popping position during the rotary movement of said shaft throughan are of 180 degrees and to move said'basket from popping positionduring the movement of said shaft through the succeeding arc ofl80'dgrees, a motor for operating said shaft, an electric circuitcomprising a master switch for closing the circuit through said heatingelement, an auxiliary circuit for controlling the operation of saidmotor comprising a heatresponsive circuit-closing member for closingsaid motor circuit when said oil has reached a predeterminedtemperature, an intermediate switch in said motor circuit having meansactuatable by said shaft to open said motor circuit as said shaftcompletes the first mentioned arc of rotation, a time switch havingsetting means operable by said shaft during said fii'stmentioned are ofrotation thereof and arranged to close said motor circuit to start saidmotor and shaft after a predetermined interval, and means actuatable bysaid shaft as the same approaches the termination of said second arc ofrotation for closing said master switch.

10. A corn popping machine comprising a casing, a source of heattherein, a tiltable popping basket having means for moving the same toand from popping position with respect to said heat source, a cornhopper, dispensing means for de livering corn from said hopper to saidbasket when the latter is out of popping position, motor operatedmechanism for actuating in sequence said dispensing means andbasket-moving means for 7 moving said basket into popping position, an

electric circuit for said motor, an automatically operated switch insaid circuit for stopping the operation of said mechanism during thepopping of the corn, an automatically operating timeswitch in said motorcircuit for closing the same when said corn has been popped to effectthe operation of said motor operated mechanism and to move said basketfrom popping position, a discharge chute extending to the' exterior ofsaid? casing, and manually operable means for tilting said basket whenout of popping position to discharge the popped corn through said chute.

ll. A com popping machine comprising 2. casing, an oil tank therein, anelectric heating element for heating said oil, a popping basket tiltablysupported by said basket for movement into and out of contact with theoil therein, a corn hopper dispensing means having an inlet and outletgate for delivering measured quantities of corn from said hopper to saidbasket when in non-popping position, a rotary shaft operable in twocycles of one half revolution each and having cams thereon for effectingthe actuation of said outlet gate to deliver a measured quantity of cornto said basket and'moving said basket into popping position during saidfirst cycle of rotation and for effecting the removal of said basketfrom popping position and actuating said inlet gate during the secondcycle of rotation, an electric'circuit for said heating element, aswitch in said casing for opening and closing said circuit, a switchshaft in said casing having a pawl and ratchet mechanism for turningsaid switch to circuit closing position, a coin slide extendingoutwardly of said casing for manually actuating said pawl mechanism, amotor operatively connected to said rotary shaft for driving-the same,an auxiliary circuit for said motor, a heatresponsive circuit-closingmember arranged to direct current through said motor circuit when thetemperature of said oil has reached a predetermined degree to therebyeffect the movement of said shaft through said first cycle, anintermediate switch in said motor circuit having means operable by saidrotary shaft for stopping said motor at the end of said first cycle, atime switch in said motor circuit for re-closing the same after apredetermined popping interval and initiating said second cycle ofrotation of said rotary shaft, means operable by said shaft for closingsaid intermediate switch at the end of said first cycle, a second pawland ratchet mechanism on said switch shaft, means operable by saidrotary shaft as the same reaches the end of said second cycle foroperating said second pawl and ratchet mechanism for closing said firstmentioned switch, a discharge chute extending to the exterior of saidcasing, and manually operable means for tilting said basket to dischargethe popped corn into said'chute.

12. A com popping machine comprising a casing, an oil tank having asource of heat therefor, a popping basket movable into operativeposition in said tank, a motor operated suction device, a conductorcircuit for said motor, a heat responsive circuit-closing member in saidtank arranged to basket to and from popping relation 'with respect tosaid source, a motor for operating said mechanism, an automaticallyoperated switch for stopping said motor when said basket has been movedto popping position, and a time switch for starting said motor after apre-determined interval.

to eiTect the'movement of said basket from popping position.

14. Corn popping mechanism comprising a heat source, a tank having .oiltherein adapted to be. heated by said source. a Popping basket supportedadjacent the oil in said tank and arranged for movement into and frompopping position with respect thereto, mechanism for effecting saidmovements of said basket, 0. motor arranged to actuate said mechanism,and a heat responsive switch for holding said motor inoperative untilsaid oil has reached a pre-determined temperature.

15. Corn popping mechanism comprising a heating medium, a popping basketfor holding corn to be popped and mounted for movement into and frompopping relation with respect to said medium, mechanism for effectingsaid movements of said basket, a motor for operating said mechanism, anda circuit for said motor comprising automatically operated circuitcontrolling means for starting said motor when said medium has reached apredetermined'temperature and stopping said motor when said basket hasbeen moved to popping position and for re-starting said motor after apre-determined popping interval to effect the movement of said basketfrom popping position.

16. A com popping machine comprising a source of heat, a movable poppingbasket for holding a batch of corn to be popped, mechanism for movingsaid basket and corn into popping position with respect to said heatsource and retaining the same therein for a predetermined interval andthereafter removing the same therefrom, a motor for operatingsaid-mechanism, a switch in the motor circuit,-means for operating saidswitch manually to close said circuit, and means actuated by the motorfor operating said switch to open said circuit upon removal oi thebasket from popping position by said mechanism.

17. A com popping machine comprising a source of heat, a popping basketfor holding .a batch of corn to be popped and being mounted for movementto and from operative relation with respect to said source, mechanismfor eflecting the movement of said basket into operative relation withsaid heat source for popping the corn in the basket, means forinterrupting the operation of said mechanism upon the completion of saidmovement of said basket, and timing oil; and means controlled by thetemperature of said popping oil for feeding corn to be popped into thatpart of saidcontainer below the said oil level.

19. In' a pop corn machine of the character described, a reservoir;popping oil in said reservoir; a perforated container movable to andfrom a position in the reservoir where a portion thereof is below thelevel of said 011; and means for introducing a charge of corn to bepopped into said perforated container when the temperature of said oilrises to a predetermined degree, said means being actuated by the saidrise in temperature.

20. Ina pop corn machine of the character described, a reservoir;popping oil in said reservoir; a perforated container movable to andfrom a position in the reservoir where a portion thereof is below thelevel of said oil; means iorintroducing a charge of corn to be poppedinto said perforated container when the temperature of said all rises toa predetermined degree; and means submerged in the popping oil forheating the oil in the reservoir and container, said introducing meansbeing actuated by the said rise in temperature.

21. In a pop corn machine of the character described, a reservoir forpopping .oil; a heating means for the oil; manual means for starting theaction of the heating means; means for delivering a charge of corn tothe oil; and amotor for operating said corn delivering means having astarting switch operable-when the said 011 rises to a certaintemperature, said starting'switch being operated by the said rise intemperature of the oil.

22. In a pop corn machine of the character described; a reservoir forpopping oil; means in the below the surface of said popping oil; aheating elementsubmerged in the said oil below the corn.

supporting means; means for delivering a charge ofcorn to the oil; amotor for operating said corn delivering means; and a circuit forsupplying current to the motor, having a switch adapted to close .tooperate the said delivering means when the temperature ofthe oil risesto a predetermined degree, 'said switch being operated by the said risein temperature'ot the oil.

HERBERT B. TYLER.

